A trade fair for micro, small and medium enterprises is being held in Orissa, January 8 to 14, 2016.It had a focus on agriculture, food processing, handicrafts, handloom and textiles, tourism, engineering, chemicals, metallurgy, plastic and polymer, marine processing and packaging.

The fair was organised to provide a platform to entrepreneurs of the state to showcase their products and services and directly interact with buyers.

Apart from proving a platform for micro, small and medium producers, the exhibition is inviting business delegations from foreign countries through their embassies in India for popularisation of Orissa’s products. Attempts are being made to attract overseas entrepreneurs to invest in Orissa in sectors like engineering, chemicals, metallurgical processing, marine processing, agriculture, tourism and textiles.

The popularity of the Orissa trade fair has increased over the years. In 2013 the total foot fall in the fair was around 1.40 lakhs which increased to 2.67 lakhs in 2014 and further to 2.50 lakhs in 2015.

Meanwhile Bangladesh’s readymade garment manufacturers have been invited to invest in Orissa’s textile sector.

Bangladesh sees a lot of scope for business with Orissa, especially in the light of the recently signed shipping agreement between Bangladesh and India.